CZECH REPUBLIC - MORAVSKÉ BUDEJOVICE

 

This project was a completely new experience for the teachers and students of a small-town secondary school in the  Czech Republic. Not for the reason of travelling abroad and using a foreign language but because of the fact we should work and cooperate with students and teachers from many different countries and create a common product. As the students got over their initial expectations of a formal conference work  they realised that this project was more about meeting new people learning cultural differences, getting to know each other and making friendships.

 

FRANCE - LAVAL

 

When we started this project, we found it ambitious but very interesting.

When we presented it to the students, then found it ambitious too but they also declared that “respect” was something “normal” or “old fashioned”.

So, how can we work on such a thema?

We explained to them that getting to know each other was a way to learn how to reach our purpose. At the beginning, everything was a problem: language, leaving home, meeting somebody new and even undertaking a long trip;

 

After the first experience, they realised:

there was no problem any more

they could communicate with each other even though they did not have the same language

they could even talk about different social issues like sexuality, politics, religious thema

they kept on communicating with internet after our meetings

they became more self confident and got some more autonomy

they became enthousiastic

they were ready to do it again

CONCLUSION

After this first COMENIUS experience, we found out that :

our students had become more curious about getting to know each other and especially other´s lives and customs.

They discovered that their own customs were not particularly the best ones

They realised that they had many prejudices against different countries that were not reality

They found out that all teenagers, wherever they come from, have all the same interests : music, dresscodes, food, sport…

They became more tolerant which is very important especially when you are teenagers

This program was a wonderful experience for our trainees because they would never have had another opportunity to do that kind of exchange. They all have an employer and since they already work, it would never have been possible for them to travel so much on their own.

 

GERMANY - BREMEN

 

When we first started the project our idea was to develop a high-quality kind of manual about „How to Be a Young European“ by bringing together students and teachers from ten different  European countries and making them discuss topics and experience cultural environments and draw conclusions. We aimed at a product on a very high intellectual level, and something politically correct, of course.

During  the course of the project many issues changed and developed in an unexpected way.

We certainly managed to achieve the inter-cultural exchange between students (and teachers as well, of course), but we learned that most of the things that happened were much more concrete:

The personal encounters supported the students’ and teachers’ knowledge of each other, the attitudes towards each other became more open-minded and respectful of the variety.

We had to overcome communication problems on how to proceed, i.e. on how to deal with the different learning and teaching styles.

For teachers and students alike language barriers and fears of working in culturally mixed groups had to be handled.

So eventually we found that the whole project was really about meeting people; people in different places all over Europe, and about creating a learning environment for personal experiences and their reflections.

The students not only learned about everyday life and communication skills in various European countries, but also developed a sensitiveness for cultural varieties. They obviously learned to respect each other. And because they had the possibility of explicitly reflecting their experiences they are able to share it with their peers.

The project certainly also had an effect on the teachers:

We saw other schools and school systems and teaching methods;

We experienced great hospitality and a willingness to cooperate

We made friends and

Our motivation and curiosity has increased.

We learned how important it is to create a tolerant and trustful and respectful atmosphere in order to be able to take part in the dynamic process of inter-cultural group work.

 

We are convinced that Comenius projects are worth the effort and would like to encourage others to experience this lively and colourful kind of European cooperation.

 

POLAND - BIELSK PODLASKI

 

During the meetings we achieved a lot of experiences how to cooperate successfully in spite of cultural and language differences. The respect  for sattled rules and the respect for other participants is basic for fruitful cooperation. We learned some new ways teachers and students work in other countries. The project has got a big influance on our work in our school. Despite of cultural differences the teachers from the cooprating countries have got one common aim- pupils' success.

 

SWEDEN - LANDSKRONA

 

All students should have the possibility to have an international experience. By working together in mixed national groups students look beyond national borders and learn to appreciate similarities and differences. In the process they also learn to accept themselves, grow as human beings and become more tolerant and accepting.

 

Not only do they grow, their Europe grows as well!